Tumbler Ridge Secondary

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport has announced that Tumbler Ridge will be joining in the FIFA World Cup 2026 festivities on June 15, 2026, when Canada Celebrates brings a chance for the community to connect with watch parties, entertainment and soccer-themed interactive experiences.

Canada Celebrates is delivered as a series of free, one-day community celebrations throughout the country. Canada Celebrates will bring soccer fans together for live match viewings, football-themed interactive experiences, cultural programming, music, food and shared moments of national pride. Canada Celebrates is a fan experience, recognizing that supporters and communities are essential to the FIFA World Cup and creating welcoming spaces where people can gather, celebrate and connect through soccer.

Tumbler Ridge is being added as the seventh B.C. stop, bringing people together to honour resilience and connect as a community. 

BC Gov News

May 7, 2026

The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia are supporting Tumbler Ridge with plans to build a new secondary school at a new location, with funding from the Province and the Government of Canada, following a school board decision based on consultation with victims' families, students, teachers, experts and the community.

More information is in the attached press release.

May 7, 2026

The executive summary prepared by Safer Schools Together documents the findings of the community consultation process.

Based on the consultation findings, Safer Schools Together reported the following recommendations:

• Build a new secondary learning environment with a high priority on a location close to town centre resources.
• Ensure the existing building is not used for future student learning.
• Ensure the school configuration is for a separate secondary school.
• Ensure that the future learning environment provides programming and learning spaces comparable in scope and quality to those of the former building.

More information is provided in the attached reports. 

May 7, 2026

The Board of Education of School District No. 59 (Peace River South) thanks all families, students, staff and individuals in the community of Tumbler Ridge that participated in the consultation process.  As the community continues to move through this difficult time, we want to assure you that your perspectives helped inform the next steps for the future secondary learning environment in Tumbler Ridge.

In response to the Tumbler Ridge Preliminary Consultation Report provided by Safer Schools Together, the Board of Education of School District No. 59 (Peace River South) passed a motion for a new secondary school to be built in Tumbler Ridge.

Our community experienced a tragic and deeply traumatic event. We recognize that the trauma and impact of this loss are immeasurable. There is no timeline for how each of us will process this grief and immense loss, both individually and as a community. While words often feel inadequate in the face of such loss, coming together can help reduce isolation and remind us that we are not alone.

We have created a space at the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre (340 Front Street in Tumbler Ridge) to allow our school community to come together over the next few days and as needed. All will be welcome to attend and connect. Mental health professionals will be present to walk alongside and provide support. 

Our priority at this time is taking care of each other and re-establishing a sense of safety in our community. It can be especially difficult to know how to reassure our children when we ourselves are trying to process and make sense of such profound loss. Children may experience a wide range of emotions in response to what they hear or see, and they will look to the adults in their lives to help them feel safe and understand the world around them.

Over the coming days or weeks, we encourage families to remain attentive to any changes in their child’s behaviour that may indicate a need for additional support. As a parent or caregiver, you may feel unprepared to support your child during this time.

Please review the strategies and resources listed below to help guide conversations with children, with the understanding that responses will vary depending on age, development, and connection to this tragedy.